Canton Lotus Garden Restaurant
, BARRINGTON PASSAGE · Food Establishment
Inspection summary
Canton Lotus Garden Restaurant has been inspected 6 times by Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change (Food Safety Program) since November 20, 2024. The most recent inspection, on May 1, 2026, found no infractions.
3 of 6 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 2 inspections with 3 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Protecting food from contamination, Cleaning and sanitizing and Chemicals and toxic substances.
Recent inspections have recorded fewer infractions than earlier ones, so the record is improving.
What these findings mean
Health authorities word their violations differently, so we group them by what they mean for food safety. Higher-risk findings are the ones inspectors treat as critical, because they can directly make someone sick.
Protecting food from contaminationHigher risk
This covers how food is stored, prepared and displayed: raw meat kept away from ready-to-eat food, food covered and stored off the floor, and nothing dripping or splashing into it. Cross-contamination from raw to cooked food is a direct route for salmonella and E. coli.
Recorded 5 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on September 9, 2025. For example:
29(1) An operator of a food establishment must have a maintenance, cleaning and sanitation program in place to control the risk of contamination of food, equipment, utensils and other facilities in the food establishment.
Cleaning and sanitizingHigher risk
Anything that touches food, such as cutting boards, dishes and utensils, must be washed, rinsed and sanitized. Inspectors check dishwasher temperatures, sanitizer strength and how wiping cloths are stored. Poor sanitizing lets bacteria survive from one use to the next.
Recorded 3 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on March 24, 2026. For example:
29(2)(a) A maintenance, cleaning and sanitation program must include procedures to ensure that all of the following are done: (a) the food establishment and equipment are maintained, cleaned and sanitized;
Chemicals and toxic substancesHigher risk
Cleaning products, sanitizers and pesticides must be labelled and stored away from food and food-contact surfaces. Inspectors flag chemicals that could end up in food, as well as pest treatments applied without proper supervision.
Recorded 2 times on September 9, 2025. For example:
19(1)(c) A food establishment must be located, designed, constructed and maintained to ensure all of the following: (c) that the surfaces and materials are durable, non-toxic and are easy to maintain, clean and sanitize;
Handwashing and staff hygieneHigher risk
Hands are the main way germs like norovirus move from people to food. Inspectors look for stocked, accessible handwashing sinks, staff washing hands when required, hair restraints, and sick employees being kept away from food. Gaps here can spread illness quickly.
Recorded once on November 20, 2024. For example:
19(2)(b) A food establishment must provide all of the following in accordance with applicable legislation or as considered acceptable by the Administrator: (b) adequately designed and appropriately located hand-washing facilities;
Building, plumbing and upkeepLower risk
Floors, walls and ceilings must be smooth and clean, with working lighting, ventilation, plumbing, hot and cold water, and washrooms. These are rarely an immediate food-safety risk on their own, but persistent problems can lead to pest or sanitation issues.
Recorded once on March 24, 2026. For example:
49(2)(a) Before being placed in the dry storage room or designated area, opened packages of food ingredients and food packaging materials must be (a) transferred to clean, suitably covered containers or be sealed and securely closed; and
About this data
These results come from Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change (Food Safety Program), which inspects food premises and other public facilities in this area. We republish the authority's public disclosure data and refresh it regularly; the official record is the final word.
6 inspections
- Inspection
0 infractions
- Inspection
3 infractions
- 29(2)(a) A maintenance, cleaning and sanitation program must include procedures to ensure that all of the following are done:
(a) the food establishment and equipment are maintained, cleaned and sanitized;
- Ensure that your dishwasher operates in accordance with manufacturer specifications and Section 4.2.6 of the NS Food Retail and Food Services Code by dispensing sanitizer at >50ppm chlorine. Resume a sanitizer log for the dishwasher.
- 29(2)(a) A maintenance, cleaning and sanitation program must include procedures to ensure that all of the following are done:
(a) the food establishment and equipment are maintained, cleaned and sanitized;
- Deep clean your floor to remove accumulated caked on debris from the floor under and around equipment. Deep clean the bathroom. Deep clean the walk-in, specifically the shelving with splattered food waste. Ensure that these areas are cleaned more thoroughly and at a greater frequency, so that debris does not accumulate.
- 49(2)(a) Before being placed in the dry storage room or designated area, opened packages of food ingredients and food packaging materials must be
(a) transferred to clean, suitably covered containers or be sealed and securely closed; and
- Ensure foods are stored off the floor and with covers to protect from contamination.
- 29(2)(a) A maintenance, cleaning and sanitation program must include procedures to ensure that all of the following are done:
(a) the food establishment and equipment are maintained, cleaned and sanitized;
- Inspection
0 infractions
- Inspection
5 infractions
- 19(1)(c) A food establishment must be located, designed, constructed and maintained to ensure all of the following:
(c) that the surfaces and materials are durable, non-toxic and are easy to maintain, clean and sanitize;
- Ensure that surfaces are smooth durable cleanable. Remove the taped plastic from the metal shelf.
- 19(1)(c) A food establishment must be located, designed, constructed and maintained to ensure all of the following:
(c) that the surfaces and materials are durable, non-toxic and are easy to maintain, clean and sanitize;
- Remove or finish the unfinished wood panel by the stove so that it is smooth, durable, cleanable, and non-absorbent.
- 29(1) An operator of a food establishment must have a maintenance, cleaning and sanitation program in place to control the risk of contamination of food, equipment, utensils and other facilities in the food establishment.
- Mop the floor more frequently, so that grease and debris don't accumulate under equipment and along seams. Clean the handwash station more frequently, so that debris and residue doesn't accumulate on the faucet and backsplash. Only use food-safe sanitizer - such as quats at 200ppm and bleach at 100-200ppm. A chemical is not foodsafe if manufacturer requires rinse after use on food contact surfaces.
- 29(2)(a) A maintenance, cleaning and sanitation program must include procedures to ensure that all of the following are done:
(a) the food establishment and equipment are maintained, cleaned and sanitized;
- Begin a log of daily checks of your dishwasher chlorine concentration, to ensure it continues to operate at >50ppm.
- 49(1)(a) An operator must ensure that food ingredients and food packaging materials must be stored in a dry storage room or designated area that
a) protects the food ingredient or food packaging material from contamination;
- Store foods off the floor, covered, and so the bottoms of containers don't touch the food in the containers below them to protect from contamination.
- 19(1)(c) A food establishment must be located, designed, constructed and maintained to ensure all of the following:
(c) that the surfaces and materials are durable, non-toxic and are easy to maintain, clean and sanitize;
- Inspection
0 infractions
- Inspection
5 infractions
- 19(2)(b) A food establishment must provide all of the following in accordance with applicable legislation or as considered acceptable by the Administrator:
(b) adequately designed and appropriately located hand-washing facilities;
- In accordance with Section 2.14 and 2.15 of the NS Food Retail and Food Services Code, you must equip handwashing stations with paper towel in a dispenser.
- 28(1) An operator must successfully complete a food hygiene training program and provide proof of this to the Administrator upon request.
- In accordance with Section 6.3.4 of the NS Food Retail and Food Services Code, you must provide verification of completion of a valid, recognized food hygiene course to the Department.
- 29(1) An operator of a food establishment must have a maintenance, cleaning and sanitation program in place to control the risk of contamination of food, equipment, utensils and other facilities in the food establishment.
- In accordance with Section 4.2.5 of the NS Food Retail and Food Services Code, you must regularly sanitize food contact surfaces such as counters. Chlorine at 100-200ppm, or quaternary ammonium compounds at 200ppm may be used.
- 34 An operator must ensure that a food establishment is operated so that all food and food ingredients are processed, manufactured, handled, prepared, packaged, served, sold, offered for sale or distribution free of charge, dispensed, displayed and stored in a manner that prevents contamination and adulteration.
- Do not let the underside of containers touch food. Keep stored foods in the walk-in covered, except when cooling.
- 49(1)(a) An operator must ensure that food ingredients and food packaging materials must be stored in a dry storage room or designated area that
a) protects the food ingredient or food packaging material from contamination;
- In accordance with Section 2.9 of the Nova Scotia Food Retail and Food Services Code, you must ensure stored items are protected from contamination such as water leakage, pest infestation or any other unsanitary condition. Store all food and food items a minimum of 15 cm (6 in.) off the floor on racks, shelves or pallets.
- 19(2)(b) A food establishment must provide all of the following in accordance with applicable legislation or as considered acceptable by the Administrator:
(b) adequately designed and appropriately located hand-washing facilities;